ALL members of the Presidential Security Guard (PSG) have been required to go on self-quarantine while the PSG compound inside the Malacañang complex will be placed under a total lockdown for two weeks.
The lockdown will take effect at 12 a.m. of March 28 and last until April 10, 2020.
“All PSG personnel and their dependents are required to undergo self quarantine and will just stay in their respective quarters for the duration of the lockdown,” PSG Chief Jesus Durante said Friday, March 27.
This is intended to ensure that no PSG member would pose a threat to the health of President Rodrigo Duterte. The PSG has the sole mandate of protecting the President.
“By ensuring the good health condition of the PSG troopers means deploying competent and able personnel who are not themselves threat to the health of the President,” Durante said.
PSG personnel and their dependents are staying inside the PSG compound within the Malacañang complex.
All offices inside the complex, including the Malacañan Palace, will maintain a skeletal workforce. Essential civilian employees shall still be allowed to enter the Palace area subject to regular screening procedures.
The country is under a state of public health emergency and state of calamity because of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
A newly enacted law, Republic Act 11469, also declared a national emergency and granted President Duterte special powers to deal with the pandemic.
Among these special powers authorize Duterte to realign funds amounting to P275 billion under the 2020 national budget. Part of these funds will be used to distribute up to P8,000 to each of 18 million low-income families.
Duterte has also been granted authority to direct the operation of private establishments to be used as temporary medical facilities, quarantine areas or relief distribution centers.
He also has the power to ensure that local government officials toe the line and obey quarantine rules.
Luzon is under an enhanced community quarantine. Several local governments across the country have also declared localized quarantine measures in an attempt to slow the spread of the disease. (MVI/SunStar Philippines)